So I'm checking in, plus a story to tell. I'm down one pound from when I joined this operation. Yay! It's going very slowly, but isn't too painful, so I'll take it!

My story is, I got on the scale this morning and weighed 167 (I'm shooting for 163 by the end of Summer, which puts me on the upper end of the healthy weight range). Then I went for a 15 mile bike ride, VERY hilly, and it's VERY hot here. I got home, had eaten breakfast since weighing, drank a pint of water, then weighed myself again (I don't know why, just curious). With all that sweating, I lost FIVE POUNDS. It's not real, but I was just amazed that in two hours you can lose five pounds of water.

Who knew?

And it's 5 pounds you should replace! But it sure is nice to see the lower number on the scale!

Jessica - Good luck on your tri tomorrow!

SB - I was about to refer you to the rotator cuff thread in the weight/resistance area, but I went there and see you started it! Whoops!

Raining and 50ish (that's 10C) today - for the third day in a row. So, no painters again. It's a good thing they're painting the house the same color or I'd be stuck with a two-toned house.

Jessica, best wishes on your triathlon! Adrenaline masks lots of little physical annoyances before and during a race. Will be thinking about you tomorrow! My gf (the one who convinced me to go to Atlanta) told me she completed a 1.8mile open water swim in 45 minutes about 3 weeks ago - with a bad cold that she forgot she had while she was in the water.

I've been an amateur gemologist for several years, and found a certification program to become a registered gemologist/insurance appraiser. I've locked onto a very underserved related Internet niche that I'm going to attempt to fill at the same time. I incorporated last fall, but only completed my remaining equipment purchases last month. I'm pretty geeked - it will be a lot of work (of course). I'm looking forward to taking control of it and having my income reflect my performance and effort. And I will NOT miss "The Organization shall ..." I HATE the word "shall".

It's Friday - I'm tired and grumpy, and have budgeted a very stiff gin and tonic to wash away the week this evening.

My sunglasses were mended free of charge!

And I spent several hours walking round a beautiful city because that's where my optician of choice is. Still on course with Beck. Weigh-in on Sunday but daily data are looking good.

Jessica - it's your tri already?? Very good luck!

Pat - it was 10C when I left home today and managed to rise to a splendid high oh 12C. Don't know that in F (oh! 50ish you say) but I've had two fleeces on tonight (partly because I'm icing my shoulder).

For tomorrow, Saturday's child works hard for a living. Having read about the US corporate world here over the years, that seems to be the case. Crikey, such unreasonable demands, such wasteful meetings, and (this may not be the case overall) such weak protection of workers. Or this is the picture I've pieced together. It's got to have a knock-on effect on health and wellbeing. We do, of course, work extremely hard at this weight loss malarkey. (Saef, great piece for your resume - posted somewhere else & am on BlackBerry so can't find).

Becky - sounds good. Hand in your notice and hold your nerve!

KC - are you OK?

Mahalia -

if I've missed you. Busy thread today.

Ah, how quickly things can change. TOday is bright and with bright blue skies. About 60+ (15C) though the rain, etc. is supposed to come back tomorrow. The painters showed up about 8:30 am and are hard at it. It will still take them at least another day after today however. They are doing the deck today and painting the railing is hand work, and requires two coats....

Dear All

I believe a cornerstone of my weightloss campaign is to eat all food sitting down (a Beck principle). Kick it away and the whole edifice rocks, totters and falls. Leave it respectfully in position and weight falls away. I'll report tomorrow.

Oh yes. Well, the child that is born on the Sabbath Day is bonny and blithe and good and gay. OK, then. Brain overload prevents me thinking of anything to say so we'll leave it there. I'll manage to keep posting without a crutch.

Pat - glad the painters came.

Jessica - how was the tri??

It's been a good day.

For weight. I've lost 5lbs! And I've changed the figs over there <- to reflect the state of play. I'm working on increments of 5lbs now. Never done this properly before but it feels within my grasp.

For exercise. Went to gymn for warm-up (TM) and a lot of yoga and stretching. My rotator cuff is easing up. My posture is improving.

For food. All according to plan.

For work. My annual accounts are done!

For sleep? I plan an early night.

Not for weather. It has been torrential.

Onward to tomorrow!

Jessica? Waiting to hear your success story! Time to reinvigorate that maintainers' athletic brag board!

SB - sounds like a very successful, sensible weekend. Thank you for being my role model for NEXT weekend.

Alas, another example of "planned to fail by failing to plan" for me. It was a gross, sticky, hot weekend. It's TOM. I'm stressed. It's my very own bad, and I'm going to have to learn to work with weekends, especially if I am going to pursue a career that won't include driving 35 minutes away from my pantry 5 out of 7 days per week.

Hi guys! Sorry I didn't check in to post my race report sooner, I was busy sleeping all day and eating like a horse to recover. Just kidding -- mostly.

I posted my full (LONG) race report on the triathlon thread here: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/3393444-post79.html

The short version:
Total time 1:48:19 (546/560)
Swim: 18:09 (543/588 - higher total number since it includes the relay teams)
T1: 3:18 (527/593 - why is this more total people than the other? I don't know)
Bike: 45:17 (568/593)
T2: 1:49 (261/589)
Run: 39:45 (567/591)

Overall it went pretty well. Not quite as good as I wanted -- my goal was 1:45 total time. However, I did meet the goal of not being last in my age group! Two weeks until the next tri.

BRAVO, JESSICA!!!!

Brilliant, Jessica! Well done!

Hi all

Jessica, that was some real adventure reading. Fabulous! And now for #2, wow!
Silver, how is Moday's child?
Becky, I thought of your G & T while I had my Bloody Mary (with low sodium V8 )
Mahalia, great story, and glad to meet you!
Pat, house done yet? It is too hot and sunny here for oil based paint, what kind are you using?
Saef, how's the train schedule today? I understand how it feels to thrown off plan by factors out of my control.
Midwife, thinking of you and DD. I am glad I donn't have to think about anything college related for quite some time. Well, I know I have to think about helping to fund it but I cannot even stomach the thought of overnight camp!

As for me, my fat self has been warring with my thin self and I was able to remind all of us that I AM a maintainer and that it is NOT time to give up all progress and head for the doldrums of relapse My two year maintenance anniversary happens this August and I will celebrate with some nice runs

I'm hanging at the same weight the last several days... lower than it has been, hope it keeps in that direction...

Hi Shannon!